My son, my inspiration – mum's dream to develop Haven Centre for Highlands comes true
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No one ever rang the doorbell when Andrew Normington was a youngster to see if he was coming out to play.
The isolation he experienced as a boy with severe learning difficulties prompted his mother, Elsie, to embark on an ambitious vision to develop a centre where young people with complex needs and their families would feel a true sense of belonging.
With her dream now becoming a reality, she reflects on how it all began and how community empowerment makes a difference:
"My journey to began back in the mid 1990s when my son Andrew was a child and had nowhere to go and play with peers like himself.
Andrew is now a man living in his own home with 24/7 support but as a child he was isolated when he was not in school.
After 10 years and £4.8m, Haven dream is becoming reality
Easter Ross mum speaks of life-changing difference Haven will make to her family
I just longed he could have a place to play with friends, just like him.
In 1996, I set up a parents' support group in Drummond School in Inverness and I began to talk about my "silent doorbell" and discovered that all the other parents had silent doorbells too.
As a result, I gave up teaching my piano pupils and went full-time, developing the Special Needs Action Project (SNAP) which began as a weekly club then grew into after school clubs, Saturday outings and school holiday projects.
I used to dream of a specialist play centre back then, but the job was so demanding there was no time for big development.
After five years, I began writing and delivering training courses across Scotland and the vision lay dormant on the back shelf of my mind.
When Andrew moved into his own home in 2012, I published my book The Silent Doorbell which so many parents and professionals found to be so helpful and supportive.
I decided then we needed a specialist play centre in the Highlands, so I set up the Elsie Normington Foundation.
It seemed a bold move but giving up teaching piano and developing SNAP had been a bold move too, I felt it was part of what God was calling me to do.
I started by getting the charity established on the right footing and visiting every community group which would have me so I could tell people about the vision of the Haven Centre and that it would cost around £4 million.
It seemed a massive amount but I was now experienced in doing funding applications and raising funds as a development officer at Merkinch Community Centre so I figured it was the same skill set – just much, much more money.
It felt very humbling asking everyone to give to the Haven but hundreds joined me on the journey from all walks of life – old and young, rich and poor, connected and compassionate folk all wanting to help in some way.
All the money went in the pot and how it grew.
Trustees, volunteers, staff, fundraisers and the local media all joined me.
I always gave a flourishing message when out speaking and believed the money would come.
I prayed hundreds of prayers and often cried to God he would open the right doors. I met people I never imagined I would meet.
During the 10-year journey, I have been open, honest, transparent, dedicated, committed, positive, determined and faithful.
I just wanted to be a voice for those who have no voice.
We have now reached that finishing line. We raised £4.8 million and the buildings are complete.
A massive thank you to our generous architect Colin Armstrong and our builders, Compass, who have done a magnificent job developing such high quality buildings for our families who so desperately need these facilities and services.
We have created something unique in Scotland and so a big thank you to all the generous supporters in the Highlands and beyond, and also to all of our funders.
There were many ups and downs in the journey but keeping positive, believing it would come to pass was so very crucial.
We have shown when we come together as a community, we can make a difference.
